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Premiership in new £625m TV deal Premiership in new £625m TV deal
(30 minutes later)
The winner of football's Premiership will net an extra £50m from next season after the league agreed a new £625m deal for overseas television rights.The winner of football's Premiership will net an extra £50m from next season after the league agreed a new £625m deal for overseas television rights.
Income from the deal means even the team finishing bottom of the pile will claim £30m - about what current title holders Chelsea won last season.Income from the deal means even the team finishing bottom of the pile will claim £30m - about what current title holders Chelsea won last season.
The money adds to income from domestic broadcast and internet contracts.The money adds to income from domestic broadcast and internet contracts.
"This deal really does take us on to another level," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore."This deal really does take us on to another level," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.
Overseas appealOverseas appeal
The new contract covers coverage of the 2007/8, 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons in 208 countries worldwide.The new contract covers coverage of the 2007/8, 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons in 208 countries worldwide.
We have a cosmopolitan approach to players and a cosmopolitan approach to ownership and that is paying off Richard ScudamorePremier League chief executive English clubs in Euro cash fearWe have a cosmopolitan approach to players and a cosmopolitan approach to ownership and that is paying off Richard ScudamorePremier League chief executive English clubs in Euro cash fear
The £625m raised is double that from existing overseas television deals and takes the Premiership's earnings from media rights over the three seasons to more than £2.7bn.The £625m raised is double that from existing overseas television deals and takes the Premiership's earnings from media rights over the three seasons to more than £2.7bn.
Mr Scudamore said the largest increase in payments for rights had been in the Middle East and in Asia, with the battle to show live games particularly fierce in Hong Kong.Mr Scudamore said the largest increase in payments for rights had been in the Middle East and in Asia, with the battle to show live games particularly fierce in Hong Kong.
"We have a cosmopolitan approach to players and a cosmopolitan approach to ownership and that is paying off," he said."We have a cosmopolitan approach to players and a cosmopolitan approach to ownership and that is paying off," he said.
"No territories have gone down but in some cases the rights have ended up being sold for three or four times the current amount.""No territories have gone down but in some cases the rights have ended up being sold for three or four times the current amount."
Who wins? Rights divided
BSkyB and Setanta are sharing the domestic television rights for Premiership matches from next season.BSkyB and Setanta are sharing the domestic television rights for Premiership matches from next season.
The gap between the Premiership and the Championship may become wider Richard HunterAnalystHargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers
The rivals were successful bidders in an auction to show top-flight games, beginning in the 2007/8 season.The rivals were successful bidders in an auction to show top-flight games, beginning in the 2007/8 season.
The domestic TV rights auction generated £1.7bn ($3.1bn) for the Premier League, with BSkyB paying £1.3bn for its four packages of games and Setanta £392m for its two.The domestic TV rights auction generated £1.7bn ($3.1bn) for the Premier League, with BSkyB paying £1.3bn for its four packages of games and Setanta £392m for its two.
Setanta broke Sky's monopoly and has rights to 46 live matches a season, while BSkyB has won the rights to 92 live matches, including the "A" package of games on late Sunday afternoons.Setanta broke Sky's monopoly and has rights to 46 live matches a season, while BSkyB has won the rights to 92 live matches, including the "A" package of games on late Sunday afternoons.
The Premiership's appeal overseas has gone from strength to strength, thanks to high-profile players and the league's reputation for excitement.The Premiership's appeal overseas has gone from strength to strength, thanks to high-profile players and the league's reputation for excitement.
Who wins?
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose said that the big winners of the new deal would be top-flight players and their agents, with supporters and lower league sides unlikely to see any real benefits.BBC sports editor Mihir Bose said that the big winners of the new deal would be top-flight players and their agents, with supporters and lower league sides unlikely to see any real benefits.
Richard Hunter, of Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, added that extra money for the Premiership could potentially widen the gap between the top flight and the Championship.
"If you have the teams who are getting relegated from the Premiership pocketing £30m then in modern day terms that equates to three to five top players," he told BBC News 24.
"Presumably, if they can replace half their team, that gives them a very good chance of getting promoted again and the gap between the Premiership and the Championship may become wider."